This part intends to gather studies on current urban situations related to development issues. These studies will be reported in short articles form and will propose personal reflexions on the socio-urban reality,
For example questionning on urban policies and their consequences…
If you want to share any research studies on this topic, don’t hesitate to write your own article.
If you are interested on one of the topics presented on this blog, contact the author or email us at alterurbanet@hotmail.com.

Mumbai, the SRS scheme, a debate on slum rehabilitation policy

[Christina Sam Yue Chi, Yâsimîn Vautor yasimin@ifrance.com, Aurelia Savery saveryaure@gmail.com et Irene Fernandez mailto:2005perufer2004@yahoo.es - 2005]

The SRS scheme is a specific program of slum rehabilitation in Mumbai. After the fail of many slum interventions programs, this current policy since 1995 aims to turn slum settlements into block housing. This program involves private builders´ financial participation. It enables them to develop housing projects on the land concerned by the policy, as they relocate in the same time slum dwellers settled there. The scheme allows building more units as sell units component. The sell of these units thanks to the high land value in Mumbai, enables to relocate slum dwellers for free and ensure in the same time a profit to private builders.We consider that even the SRS scheme provides new houses for slum dwellers and better amenities; its intervention depends on the private market. The availability of the scheme is restricted by certain specific conditions, for example it concerns only high value land in Mumbai, and it excludes certain situations of slum settlements as the pavement dwellers…

Mumbai, the question of participation in the process of their own relocation.

[ Aurelia Savery, 2005 , saveryaure@gmail.com]
In Mumbai, the process of relocating people mostly concerns the part of slum dwellers located in the centre of Mumbai. Slums are turned into multi-storeys buildings. But are the slum dwellers being involved in the process of their own relocation?
The concept of participation is provided by the organisation of slum dwellers communities in cooperatives or societies which are headed by leaders. This is more a theoretical aspect of the participation, the reality is more complex. Some people agree to shift to a better accommodation and get basic amenities. But another part of the inhabitants seems to give up and follow the crowd even if they are against the relocation.
In reality the participation has to face and solve a lot of social problems. The main problem is corruption of the leaders. Even though the SRS scheme provides facilities for slum dwellers and a new accommodation for free, it also gives fewer advantages for inhabitants and more economic profit for private builders. The buildings are built to maximise the number of tenants which in return compromises the quality of space. Sometimes the units are as small as 17sqm per family.

Marseille, is there a way to redevelop the city centre without its inhabitants?

[Christina SAM YUE CHI, Yâsimîn VAUTOR yasimin@ifrance.com 2004/2005]
The current debate is about the redevelopment of the “rue de la Republique” which lies in the popular part of Marseille.
“Rue de la Republique” is not the only street involved in the redevelopment program of the city. The buildings on this street have been owned by real estate developers for more than one and half century. Earlier this area was popular for its local culture and its inhabitance. But nowadays the current private owners are not interested in the maintenance of the building. The heritage is slowly becoming ruins. Following the new policies of city centers’ revitalization, this particular street is seen as an important issue for private developers.
The redevelopment of this area is followed by a changing of its inhabitants. The so to say low class population is thrown out so as to accommodate middle and high class population, who reflect the new vision of the city, modern and clean.
Can we think of the city without its inhabitants? Don’t we have to think about the authenticity of each particular area of the city? The “popular” part of the city centre constitutes an essential part of the identity of Marseille. Several surveys were made by some students of the architecture school of Paris la Villette based on interviews of inhabitants of this particular street which are forced to leave their rented flat.

urban centres: gentrification and homogenisation?

[Irene Fernández Álvarez, 2005. perufer2004@yahoo.es]

As cities find themselves exposed to international competition with each other, the necessary valorisation of their built heritage and the rediscovery of the role of the city centre have nurtured the re-emergence of the core of cities as the "new mirrors" of their wholeness and image. In this process the potential of derelict central industrial lands and historic centres has unfolded considerable economic and political interest on their revitalisation. Yet, the embedded positive perception of regeneration, transformation and growth has social implications. What forms of development strategies avoid social gentrification and what is the nature of projects that prevent the global homogenisation of cities?

Madrid, Intervention model in the historic centre: The “Revitalisation” process in Lavapiés (1997 – 2004)

[Irene Fernández Álvarez, 2005. perufer2004@yahoo.es]

Traditionally popular, Lavapiés neighbourhood has been transformed by rehabilitation process, which started in 1997.Public investors have played a great role in bringing about this physical transformation which has drastically increased the real- state value of Lavapiés.
Lack of speculation control is causing the indirect expulsion of traditional population that cannot afford the new prices.
Lavapiés has always been characterised by its social patrimony founded in diversity and tolerance. Yet, today it runs the risk of becoming a standardized and anaesthetized “show case” of the new “cosmopolitan Madrid”.

Download whole text in spanish (32 pages)

Barranquilla, the access to the city regarding to the question of heritage conservation in the city center.

[ Aurélia SAVERY saveryaure@gmail.com , Yâsimîn VAUTOR yasimin@ifrance.com janvier 2003 ]

At the beginning of the century, Colombia was mainly a rural country. But between 50´s and 70´s, the situation reversed. 75% of the rural population left their villages for the cities like Barranquilla. Because of the massive migration flux, the city center District Central becomes collapsed and not even more attractive. A major part of the high class population started leaving the centre, and it led to the decline of city center (pauperization, fail of commerce and industries, increase of violence and insecurity). The current policies to redevelop the city centre include a valorization of the heritage and hence a changing class population. Policies benefit the high class population in order to gentrify the centre. What happen for the low and middle class living currently in the centre, as they can’t afford the repairing of the old buildings? For the name of the heritage conservation, is it worth to through out an important part of the population? As the city is defined by a cultural melting pot, a mix of different ways of life, the popular aspect is inherent of the identity of the city, and so this part of people has a main part in the identity.
We propose a draft of our reflections on how to link the urban, social and economic aspects with the question of the heritage and redevelopment of the city centre.